Smart Senior

High-Tech Aging in Place

 

Elizabeth Olson wrote about remote devices that are ‘coming of age’ and will soon be commonplace as baby boomers retire (Seattle Times, Sunday, May 25, 2008)

 

More and more seniors are thinking along the lines of staying in their own homes as long as humanly possible.  Assisted Living and other nursing facilities have there place, but if you truly want to enjoy your independence and don’t want to live exclusively with older people you might want to explore some other options.

 

Motion sensors and remote monitoring systems are the next step up from voice-of-help emergency buttons.  Forget about “big brother” watching you.  Instead, think of it as a loving family member who has your best interests at heart.  They can receive an electronic report every day via strategically placed sensors in your home.  There are systems available as simple having your home monitored by sensors to more sophisticated devices that can track your vital signs.

 

Motion sensors and other high tech devices will help older people live independently for longer.  A survey by AARP found that most people were willing to put up with monitoring if it meant they could stay in their own homes.   There are no cameras involved so it isn’t as if someone were watching you 24/7.  This kind of technology is certainly something to think about and in the long run much less expensive than other alternatives.

Seniors Learning New Things

 

There is no age limit on learning new things and accepting new challenges.  There is no limit imposed when it comes to stretching your own personal limits.  Whether it is learning another language, mastering Computer 101, or training for a triathlon it all takes a certain determination.

 

 I read an article in the Seattle Times (August 16, 2008) by Terry Wood about a 67 year old woman, who is training for a triathlon.  My muscles hurt just thinking about it and my fitness regime is all that I can handle but still, a little part of me wants to do something like that.

 

 Age doesn’t have to be a barrier as is attested by the 963 women age 50 and older (176 of them 60 or older and 17 were 70 plus) who registered for the Seattle Danskin Triathlon.  She says:”a person can just give up (succumb to aches and pains) and be old or you can keep on living.

 

Learning how to do new things is both physically and intellectually stimulating. You end up with new skills and you meet a lot of nice people along the way.  She admits that it is hard sometimes but the hardest part is fighting inertia.  It is much easier staying home, reading, or watching television.  At times it requires a great deal of effort to take that 1^st step.

What Am I Going to Wear (Senior Dilemma)

 

It just tickles me to pieces when I see seniors (even older seniors) dressed in jeans and tennis shoes.  The world had changed a lot since the days of housedresses and granny shoes and I think this is a good thing.  However, at midlife and beyond it becomes harder and harder to find age appropriate clothing.

 

You don’t want to dress like your daughter (although some of my favorite clothing items are hand-me-downs from daughter) but you don’t want to look matronly either.  So what do you do?   Do you give up shopping altogether or stick to the tried and true styles that have been hanging in your closet for more decade?

 

Stores have traditionally catered to the youth market and have forgotten about the “boomer” generation, which is a huge mistake. Women of every age group like to shop, and only stop shopping only because there is nothing out there.  The apparel market got out of tune with what women really want.

 

Fortunately a few major chains are working on this for us.  J. C. Penny, for example, is updating its

Worthington

line with better fitting and more versatile offerings.  Talbot clothes is also working on a new look with better fabrics.  Make your wishes known.  Middle aged and older women want to look stylish too but prefer styles that are not overly revealing or too trendy. 

Oven Mats for senior cooks

 

I just read an article about funky potholders, whatever that means.  Everyone, who does any cooking at all, has at least two hot mats in the kitchen.    I keep meaning to buy some good ones but I hate to cook and never actually get around to it.  I am still using some old hand-me-downs that I have had for years but they really don’t have many redeeming qualities.

 

My mother made hot mats out of remnants of material (okay, maybe they are the ones that I am still using) but today’s versions are made of silicone which means they are more flexible and more heat resistant.

 

Seniors like to cook, and are often marvelous cooks, but decreased hand strength makes a pair of heat resistant pot holders essential.  Sara Schaefer Munoz examined some popular offerings in an article for Shopping Around (The Wall Street Journal, Thursday, May 8, 2008).

 

For cooking tasks that require a little more manual dexterity ( like snatching an egg from boiling water or  peeling back foil from you TV dinner…oh wait, we are talking about cooking here) she finds that a GET-IT Finger Guard (www.isinorthamerica.com)  is just the thing.    Kitchen Grip by (www.kitchenkapers.com) is another hand cover version and is a colorful gripper that covers the hand up to the knuckles.  They look like hand puppets and make it easy to grasp handles, oven racks and plates. 

 

 Oxo, of curse is an old stand-by, and they design a variety of products especially helpful for anyone with hand issues.  The Oxo Good Grips Silicone Oven Mitt is probably the most appealing.  The large mitt comes halfway to the elbows and is perfect for reaching into hot ovens or anytime steam or grease splatter is involved.  

 

Let’s go shopping.  Kitchen stores are always fun and we just might find some things to make cooking fun again.

 

 

 

Wild Life Viewing 101 (A.K.A. Bird Watching)

 

When February arrives and the eagles are soaring and the herons are nesting my love of bird watching revives.  Bird watching is ranked as one of the most popular out door activities, but unless you can actually see them it isn’t much more than a walk on the wild side.  The hard part is being able to get a bead on them and then try to focus your binoculars before they fly away.

 

We had a small pair of binoculars but would spend all of our time just trying to figure out what tree to look at in the distance, and it wasn’t much fun.  This year I bought my husband (well, we bought them for both of us) a pair of Bushnell Instafocus binoculars.  The best part is they were on sale, a really good sale, because all of the bird books imply that you should buy the very best that you can afford.   Don A. Nelson (Seattle Times, Thursday, March 27, 2008) recommended the Bushnell Legend for the occasional watcher. If you only get the yen to bird watch during hiking season a “good” pair of binoculars is sufficient but if you want to join a group, get up at dawn and pursue it seriously you might want a more up-scale model.  The sky is the limit.  If money is no object and you are really passionate about your hobby you can spend over a thousand dollars for something like the Brunton Eterna.  

 

Good binoculars really do make a difference.  With our Bushnell we just point at whatever we are looking at and there it is! They are extremely simple to focus and being able to actually see the feathers on the nesting herons high in the trees is quite a thrill.

More About seniors and their Medicines

 

I have touched on medications systems in the past but this is a subject that needs to be repeated from time to time.  Seniors take an unbelievable number of medicines.  As a nurse, I have worked with seniors for years and it probably won’t surprise you when I say that many seniors take from 6 – 22 pills in a single day.  Scary through isn’t it?  

 

Many seniors have no idea what pills they are taking or why they are taking them so it stands to reason that the importance of the whole program gets lost in the shuffle.  

 

Be serious about your medications.  If you feel that you are taking too many, don’t know what they are for, or can’t afford them be sure to talk to your doctor and your pharmacist.  Do not skip doses or stop taking them because you are feeling better.   If you don’t like or are worried about how they make you feel call your doctor immediately. If medicine bills are escalating out of control talk to your doctor about generics or Senior Programs that provide assistance.

 

We all forget to take our pills from time to time, but if you can’t remember if you took them it is time to come up with a fool proof system.  Keep a written check list, use a mediset, set an alarm clock or have some kind of reminder system in place.  It could be a matter of sickness or health, of even life or death.

 

 

 

More About Writing Aids for seniors

 

My mother never wrote letters as she grew older because her poor handwriting distressed her.  I am just now beginning to understand what she was going through.  As degenerative joint changes and the remnants of carpal tunnel syndrome creep up on me I am finding that my handwriting is rapidly deteriorating too and I don’t like it one bit.  

 

If there is always one item on your grocery list that is totally undecipherable or if swollen, stiff and uncomfortable fingers are making it difficult for you to put pen to paper you will be pleased that ergonomic pens have hit the market.  You may not be able to pen the great American novel by hand but you will be able to jot some readable notes until you can get to your typewriter or computer.

 

Most of these pens are uniquely designed to take pressure off from your fingers and improve your penmanship as well.  Remember when we were actually graded on penmanship?  Heather Larson writes about the “Write Stuff;” in the Arthritis Today magazine (Sept/October 2008) and comes up with some novel ideas.

 

Pilot Pen Dr. Grip gets the thumbs up from the Arthritis Foundation for its wide barrel and cushy silicone grip.  Some other interesting options that can also serve as conversation pieces include the Ring Pen, the Evo Pen and the Yoropen.  

 

The Ring Pen is worn around your index finger and minimal pressure is required to write.  Evo Pen is kidney shaped and lets you cup the pen in the palm of your hand.  You are actually using the entire hand to write with rather than putting pressure on your fingers.  The Yoropen has a futuristic design (your grandkids will love this one).  A wide grip requires less downward pressure and prevents your finger fro slipping.

 

The written word is still the best way communicates.  Don’t let your handwriting get in the way of telling your family that you love them.

 

 

Seniors Traveling Safely with Pets

 

Pets are a big part of our lives and when our children leave home it stands to reason that we get lonely.   It isn’t unusual to crave the company of a delightful “fur person” and seniors are no different than anyone else in this respect.  The good thing is that we actually have more time and money to indulge our four footed friends. The recent scare about contaminated pet food has made us all aware that we need to read labels and think about environmentally friendly products.

 

Many of us take our dogs along with us when we go out in our cars. The dog enjoys every minute of an outing whether it is a trip to an off-leash area or just accompanying you on your errands.   People actually buy cars that will easily accommodate their dogs and are just as careful about selecting the right safety products as they were with their kids.

 

 Instead of fussing about muddy paw prints and other accidents why not put seat covers on to protect your upholstery before the first accident happens.   If you are going to stress about every stain it will take the enjoyment out of your trip and your relationship.  Dogs roaming loose in your car are a safety hazard.  People are required to wear seatbelts and your dog should too. Harnesses, which also double as seatbelts can keep your dog from flying through the windshield when you step on the brakes.  Your small dogs will enjoy raised car seats that are designed so that Fido is raised to window level and can see out. Other travel  items recommended by Monica Fischer’s article for the NW Auto Resource (Sunday, February 22, 2009)  about the right travel gar for your traveling dog include  towels, food or treats, water, leashes, a lint roller and a stain and odor remover.

 Traveling with pets can prove to be a challenge for owners of all ages, but if you pack a travel kit and decide to just roll with the punches it can be a lot of fun for you.

Grandmother Hosting a Green Shower

 

Grandmothers are often the hostesses or at least very important consultants for the all important tradition known as the baby shower.   Showers are a good chance for relatives and girlfriends to get together and have fun.  They can buy cute things and hand out free advice while feeling like they are a part of something really special.

 

Whether this is your first grandchild or one of many, why not show what a “hip” and “with it” grandma you are.  Let’s do a green theme?  I don’t mean green in the sense that you are Irish and it is March, but green in the broad sense encompassing eco-friendly products.  Most people don’t know what to buy anyway and will just dash out and buy the first cute outfit that they see. Why not make it easier. Many stores offer non-toxic, organic and other goods so green parenting is indeed getting easier.

 

If you get blank faced looks from relatives and friends alike you could do a registry thing at a baby store but I think everyone will enjoy browsing for green blankets, towels, shampoos, baby powders, clothing and even old fashioned cloth diapers.   Don’t forget about toys either but instead of buying something plastic look for toys made of wood (unfinished or coated with non-toxic finish of course).  For any toys with brightly colored paints, check the labels to see if they are lead-free.  Not only will shopping be fun but it will be a learning process and will make everyone more aware of the importance of reading labels and knowing what they are buying.